Cuthbert’s targeting a flying start to campaign

ALEX Cuthbert is planning to hit the ground running this term as he looks to put himself at the front of Wayne Pivac’s plans for next year’s World Cup.

Cuthbert became Wales’ comeback kid last season. The wing hadn’t played international rugby for close on five years before he was summoned for the Six Nations victory over Scotland in Cardiff.

His performances were one of the few highlights in Wales’ disappointing defence of their title and earned him a spot in the squad for the summer tour of South Africa.

But an injury in the second Test ended his involvement in the series and the 32-year-old has now set his sights on the season ahead.

“It’s the year to perform, isn’t it?” he said.

“It’s a long year but you’ve got to build yourself up to it and put your best foot forward.”

Cuthbert was in Wales exile during his spell with Exeter Chiefs, but he reappeared on head coach Pivac’s radar when he signed for the Ospreys.

And his form for the Swanseabased region subsequently earned him a recall to the international arena.

“For the international boys, it’s about just making sure you’re in Wayne’s thoughts as much as possible,” he added. “There’s a lot of rugby before then and some big tournaments in front of that.”

Meanwhile, Jeremy Guscott has named Louis Rees-zammit – one of Cuthbert’s main rivals for a Wales wing berth – as one of the players capable of lighting up the league season in England.

The Cardiff-born flyer is still only 21, but he enjoyed an excellent tour of South Africa.

With Henry Arundell, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga, Rees-zammit has now received the seal of approval from one of rugby’s most iconic attacking players of the past 40 years.

Writing in The Rugby Paper, Guscott says: “Henry Arundell, Louis Rees-zammit, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga are four wingers who can light up the field in any company.

“Rees-zammit is only 21, but the length of his highlights reel for Gloucester, Wales and the Lions makes it seem as if he’s been around at international level a lot longer than a couple of years.

“Rees-zammit has all the armoury, whether it is out-andout pace, the swerve and the sidestep or the chip ahead. He is so quick and shows such skill that he has scored some amazing tries already.”